One of the biggest UK TV audiences in recent history was left frustrated on Saturday night when an apparent power failure at BT Tower delayed the live broadcast by over 15 minutes. As viewers waited for news on who would replace Frankie Cocozza – removed for drug use – they were greeted with apologies and a […]
Following the news in October that France’s leading pay-TV platform Canal Plus was entering into exclusive negotiations with Poland’s ITI and TVN Groups to create a strategic partnership in Poland, ITI has confirmed that Canal Plus is to buy a “significant minority” stake in ITI, the parent company of the owner of 51 per cent […]
The Walt Disney Company has completed a deal to introduce a national broadcast version of the Disney Channel in Russia. Disney said it would pay $300 million to acquire 49 per cent of Seven TV, a broadcast channel that reaches about 40 million households, or more than 75 per cent of Russia’s measured television audience. […]
Freesat, the subscription-free satellite TV service, has confirmed the addition of Argos TV shopping channel to its line-up of over 150 channels and on Demand TV. The Argos TV shopping channel is available immediately on Freesat Channel 819. Freesat’s Head of Channels, Mark Briggs said: “With the Christmas shopping rush approaching, we’re delighted to offer […]
Rob Webster, BSkyB’s group commercial director, has responded to the BBC’s plea to let it off the £10 million re-transmission fee for relaying regional programmes around the UK. Webster lists a bunch of BBC operational costs including travel, hotels and hospitality then asks: “Now, of those costs, which is the odd one out? Well, it’s […]
Discovery Networks International is launching FTA channel Discovery MAX on January 12th that will be available throughout Spain on the DTT platform on the channel 69 currently occupied by Veo TV. The launch of this new channel on Spain’s DTT is the result of a recent agreement between Discovery Networks and Unidad Editorial in the […]
The Italian government’s special commission (AgCom) has shortlisted eight would-be broadcasting companies for the nation’s auction of six new digital terrestrial TV frequencies following the country’s absolute switch-off of analogue TV broadcasting. Initially, 10 firms submitted bids. Five of the new bundles are for DVB-T broadcasting, while one is for DVB-H. The finalists, together with […]
This weekend, some Freeview viewers will be able to watch Nathan Cleverly defend his WBO World Light- Heavyweight crown against Commonwealth Champion, Tony Bellew. For viewers with the latest generation of Freeview+HD boxes from British manufacturer TVonics, the fight will be streamed live on Freeview Channel 112 at 7pm on October 15th. The live broadcast […]
ITV is restructuring its online and on-demand business to centre on four product categories as it prepares to launch a series of digital innovations, including micropayments on ITV Player. The broadcaster has chosen specific product groups around which it will focus its resources: ITV Player; programme and web support; commerce and ventures; and news and […]
The BBC is firmly behind 3DTV, although Jo Sermon, BBC Worldwide’s director of content strategy, speaking October 3 at the MIPCOM programming market, said the BBC is also playing the long game in that 3D is suitable for play-out on tablets, smart-phones, laptops, 3D-based Internet as well as Blu-ray devices. Sermon told MIPCOM delegates that […]